Illuminating the dark spaces of healthcare with ambient intelligence

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 585; no. 7824; pp. 193 - 202
• Main Authors: Haque, Albert, Milstein, Arnold, Fei-Fei, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 10.09.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/705/117; 692/700/228; Accuracy; Algorithms; Ambient Intelligence; Artificial intelligence; Chronic Disease - therapy; Chronic illnesses; Clinical decision making; Clinical outcomes; Compliance; Decision making; Delirium; Delivery of Health Care - methods; Delivery of Health Care - standards; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Health care; Health care industry; Hospital Units; Hospitals; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Intelligence; Intensive care; Intensive care units; Learning algorithms; Machine learning; Mental Health; Mortality; multidisciplinary; Patient Safety; Privacy; Quality management; Radio frequency identification; Review Article; Safety and security measures; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sensors; Surgeons; Technology application; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2669-y

Advances in machine learning and contactless sensors have given rise to ambient intelligence—physical spaces that are sensitive and responsive to the presence of humans. Here we review how this technology could improve our understanding of the metaphorically dark, unobserved spaces of healthcare. In hospital spaces, early applications could soon enable more efficient clinical workflows and improved patient safety in intensive care units and operating rooms. In daily living spaces, ambient intelligence could prolong the independence of older individuals and improve the management of individuals with a chronic disease by understanding everyday behaviour. Similar to other technologies, transformation into clinical applications at scale must overcome challenges such as rigorous clinical validation, appropriate data privacy and model transparency. Thoughtful use of this technology would enable us to understand the complex interplay between the physical environment and health-critical human behaviours. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and low-cost, contactless sensors have given rise to an ambient intelligence that can potentially improve the physical execution of healthcare delivery, if used in a thoughtful manner.